Page 111 - June 2021

VETERINARY VIEWS
Evaluate a horse’s level of ability early on to identify and address the weak components. Find a trainer, veterinarian, and farrier you are compatible with. The best results are achieved through
a collaborative team effort in horse care, and good communication amongst all members of the team.
plasma concentrations. Adding LiteR salt to the feed ensures sufficient potassium intake as well as providing a stimulus for increased water intake.
Air conditioners or fans also rest a horse’s sweat glands, thus allowing an appropriate sweat response when required. In addition, body clipping the horse reduces the insulator hair layer to improve heat dissipation. Probably the most effective treatment for anhidrosis is to move the horse to an environment that is less tropical or sub-tropical. Once the horse’s sweat glands begin to function well again, he can return to the warmer climate and allowed to re-acclimate.
There seems to be a connection between small airway inflammatory disease and anhidrosis in some horses, so respiratory health strategies are important. Stress also seems to be a complicating component in development of anhidrosis, so employ management practices to keep stress to a minimum.
NUTRIENT ATTENTION
Performance and muscle development are also entwined in the nature of a horse’s dietary menu. Quality hay and ample forage are vital for intestinal health, with fat supplements
and beet pulp safe caloric additives. Avoid corn, high-sugar or high-carbohydrate feeds
as well as extraneous supplements – many “supplements” are unwarranted.
Nutritional strategies that help in prevention and management of anhidrosis also are key approaches to ensure optimal performance. Protein is a primary culprit for generation of metabolic heat due to its high heat increment. Horses also urinate more when fed legume (high protein) hay than they do when fed grass hay. A combined increase in sweat and urine losses makes horses on high-protein (> 16 %) feeds
“at risk” for dehydration in hot weather, whether the protein source is alfalfa hay
or soybean meal. Fats have the lowest
heat increment.
The best way to provide ‘cool fuel’ is to feedgrasshay(proteinof8–12%)and5– 10 % fat supplement (rice bran or oil or fat- laced complete feed) in amounts necessary to maintain body weight. Concentrates
(for example, grain) should be limited to
no more than 0.5 % of body weight at
each meal, i.e. a 1000-pound horse should not receive more than 5 pounds grain or concentrate at a meal. Restricted grain meals not only improve the state of metabolic heat generation, but this dietary strategy also reduces the risk of a horse developing
gastric ulcers.
SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) published a welfare- related white paper stating: “There should
be a period of rest for all horses to provide
an opportunity to refresh and diminish the volume of persistent cyclic loading that occurs in the absence of rest.” Other important
messages conveyed are worthy of consideration in attending to all the little details of horse health care:
• Trainers should include horse owners in all
aspects of health care decisions. • Owners should have a thorough
understanding of the medication and training philosophy of their trainer with particular emphasis on the level of medical care provided to their horses.
• Veterinarians should provide unfettered access to owners and trainers for consultation and discussion of
medical treatments.
GOOD ADVICE
Evaluate a horse’s level of ability early on to identify and address the weak components. Find a trainer, veterinarian, and farrier you are compatible with. The best results are achieved through a collaborative team effort in horse care, and good communication amongst all members of the team.
Maintaining a horse’s hydration and electrolyte balance is essential.
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